Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty had two sisters: Princess Jinxian and Princess Yuzhen, both of whom voluntarily converted into Taoism and became Taoist nuns at an early age.

The two sisters were brought up in a period when the imperial court was undergoing the most fierce and bloodiest infighting; their mother was wronged and killed. Therefore, trying their utmost to stay away from those complicated affairs, they began to observe Taoist doctrines from early childhood and longed for a solitary life. Over twenty years old, in the name of "praying for their deceased mother", they asked their father Emperor Ruizong for permission that they should get out of the imperial court and become Taoist nuns.

Emperor Ruizong built for them magnificent temples, which also housed many retired female singers and dancers from the imperial troupe and some retired maids-in-waiting. Just like those single duchesses, they lived a much happier life than the other princesses who had to get married.